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8.30.2013

Free to struggle

'HallelujahWe are free to struggleWe're not struggling to be freeYour blood bought and makes us childrenSo children, drop your chains and sing.'

- 'The Struggle' / Tenth Avenue North

I was blessed to be able to volunteer at a Christian concert festival a couple weekends ago. One of the bands that performed was Tenth Avenue North. It was my first time seeing them live. And it came at such a perfect time in my life. God knew I needed to see and hear them.

One of the songs they sung was 'The Struggle'. It's a song of encouragement to believers that even though we are saved, and we are free, we still struggle in life. With temptations, with pride, with sin. But we are free to struggle because we have already been bought with a price. We are His children no matter what. Nothing can change His love for us.

We may be tired and worn from all the struggles we face. We may feel like we fail every day and can God still love us after we've fallen to a temptation for the umpteeth time? The weight of this world wears on us. It beats us down. It tries to stifle us and make us believe that we're worthless and good for nothing. Our souls feel crushed. We are worn and have lost our wills to fight...

But amidst all of this, we can cry out with all that we have. We can have hope in the knowledge that in God's merciful redemption, we win.

With His strength, this struggle ends.

He can mend anything.

A heart that's broken.

A breath that's frail.

A life that feels torn.

Through Him, a song can rise from your parched lips.

Whatever feels dead inside us can be made alive and reborn through the breath of His life.

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'Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him. The help of my countenance and my God.'

Wow great post! Such a good reminder. I love that verse at the end (psalm 42). And i've heard of tenth avenue north before but never really listened properly - definitely want to now! Such amazing lyrics and message! Very encouraging :)